American Legion Commander Daniel Dellinger had a lot to think about before he called for the resignation of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki.

The Legion, one of the nation's largest veterans service organizations, hadn't called for the departure of a public official in more than 30 years — and for good reason.

The group works closely with the VA on a daily basis, both in Washington and at regional VA medical centers across the country. In fact, Dellinger had just met with Shinseki and President Barack Obama two weeks earlier. The Legion's effectiveness is, to some extent, dependent on a good working relationship with the VA.

Then there were the political implications. The Legion has a diverse membership of 2.4 million members. Some would see the call for Shinseki's resignation as a violation of the group's nonpartisan nature.

But last month, the VA revealed that the deaths of 32 veterans were linked to delayed cancer screenings dating back four years.

Soon after, a retired VA doctor alleged that 40 veterans died because of treatment delays at a VA hospital in Phoenix.

And then, on the morning of the Legion's national executive council meeting at its Indianapolis headquarters, a report surfaced that clerks at an outpatient clinic in Colorado were instructed to falsify appointment records to make it appear doctors were seeing patients within the agency's goal of 14 days.

In short, Dellinger felt veterans' lives were at stake.

So on May 5, he stood before hundreds of legionnaires and reporters to call for the resignation of Shinseki, a former four-star Army general, and two of his top deputies.

He called it "the most difficult thing I've ever had to do."

It was the first flick of a domino.

While the group took some flak for the announcement — one of its largest rivals, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, released a statement disagreeing with the move — the response was overwhelmingly supportive.

The Legion's decision vaulted the issue into the national spotlight and, more importantly, gave others — including members of Congress on both sides of the aisle — cover to demand Shinseki's resignation. No longer would they be playing partisan politics; rather, they would simply be echoing one of the nation's most respected veterans groups.

U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski, R-Jimtown, was perhaps the first to join the Legion's call. A member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, she announced support for the group's plea within moments.

"It was absolutely pivotal because of their credibility," Walorski said of the Legion. "It for sure opened the door. I was just responding to that call."

Within two weeks, one of Shinseki's top deputies, Undersecretary for Health Robert Petzel resigned. But Obama continued to express confidence in Shinseki.

Then, on Wednesday, a scathing VA Inspector General's report validated many of the American Legion's concerns.

By Thursday, calls for Shinseki's resignation had reached a fever pitch. More than 125 lawmakers had joined the Legion's call, according to National Journal. That includes four members of Indiana's delegation: Walorski, Rep. Larry Bucshon, R-Newburgh, Rep. Todd Rokita, R-Indianapolis, and Rep. Susan Brooks, R-Carmel.

The president accepted Shinseki's resignation after meeting with him in the Oval Office on Friday.

President Obama said he "reluctantly" accepted the resignation of VA Secretary Eric Shinseki after meeting with him Friday. A growing number of veterans and lawmakers have demanded Shinseki resign since the scandal began.

"It is not the solution, yet it is a beginning," Dellinger said. "The solution is to weed out the incompetence and corruption within the VHA and the VBA so the dedicated employees can continue to perform admirably on behalf of our nation's veterans."

Obama said Sloan Good is now the acting secretary of the VA. He has been the deputy secretary since February 2014.

Dellinger said Gibson "is assuming an awesome responsibility, which will require decisive action and the changing of an entire culture."

Even the VFW said it supported the resignation. Although it disagreed with the Legion's initial demand for Shinseki's ouster, it supported the secretary's exit because "it became more about the secretary than fixing the problems," said John Hamilton, national adjutant general of the VFW.

Indianapolis has not been spared from the nationwide troubles at the VA.

An inspector general's report released this week found that the Indianapolis office has not acted quickly enough to serve people who need help handling their benefits.

A lawsuit recently filed by an Indianapolis veteran describes his treatment at the VA Medical Center with scenes that harken to medieval times: Little or no painkillers used during a painful medical procedure. Brute force from doctors trying to insert objects in a body cavity. A blood-spattered patient left to fend for himself.

Like the American Legion, she has called for a criminal investigation of the problems at the VA.

"I do believe there will be criminal charges coming out of this," she said. "You can't just change the head and not get to the root of the problem and corruption. Somewhere there was a deliberative body of people (within the VA) who came up with a nationwide scheme to cook the books, and veterans died as a result."

She was referring to VA investigations of several clinics and facilities that validated accusations about secret waiting lists, inappropriate scheduling tactics and falsification of records.

Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., also called for further action.

"We need to hold accountable those who were carrying out or encouraging these practices day to day, and we must ensure that the VA health system provides the responsiveness and quality care our veterans deserve," he said in a statement. "It's clear that the current scheduling system is woefully inadequate and allows for those who want to game the system to disregard the standards we expect for those who have so honorably served our country."

What members of the Indiana delegation had to say Friday on the resignation of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki:

Sen. Dan Coats, R-Ind.: "This issue requires more than a change in management. …The culture of the VA must change, and we need to look at solutions outside of government-run facilities."

Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind.: "It is time for a fresh pair of eyes on this calamity. Veterans deserve better than the bureaucratic nightmare they have faced in Phoenix and, from what we are learning, in other facilities."

Rep. Jackie Walorski, R-Jimtown: "We must work together to get to the bottom of the corruption, which is why I called for Shinseki's resignation almost three weeks ago and asked for an outside criminal investigation to tell us, once and for all, how preventable deaths and the cover-up of information, was allowed."

Rep. Todd Rokita, R-Indianapolis: "The secretary's resignation is an important first step, but it must be the beginning of much larger changes. To best serve our veterans, the bureaucratic culture must change, and fast."

Rep. Susan Brooks, R-Carmel: "(Shinseki) served our nation admirably as a member of our armed forces, and we are all thankful for his efforts in that capacity. However, fixing the current systemic problems within the Department of Veterans Affairs clearly requires new leadership with in-depth health-care system experience."

Rep. Luke Messer, R-Shelbyville: "Secretary Shinseki's resignation is appropriate under the circumstances. But, what really matters is what happens next to ensure our VA system is overhauled from top to bottom to guarantee our veterans are receiving the prompt and proper care they have earned and deserve."

Rep. Andre Carson, D-Indianapolis: "We need to clear the air and move toward long-term solutions to the systemic problems within the VA that have resulted in substandard service for the men and women who have served our country in uniform."